The 18 Chorale preludes are on two discs, BWV651 to 661 on the first, the remainder on the second. I am recommending these because of the lovely old organ that they are played on - it is by Art Schnitger at the Hervormde Kerk, Noordbroek, Nederlands, and makes some really beautiful sounds. Souter seems to have fallen in love with it also, and his affection is infectious. He avoids using the rugpositive mixtures which date from 1958, and I am not certain that this is necessarily a good idea (perhaps a little nurdishly 'authentic') but nevertheless he gets around them very well and gives a very satisfying performance, and there is surprisingly little action noise, etc.

Listening to these sounds makes it impossible to go back to the usual modern neo-classical organs without feeling that they sound synthetic and plastic. Yuch!

BWV654 'Schmucke dich, o liebe Seele' (on the first disc)is particularly beautiful, but every track has its particular charms - I just can't get enough !

Happy listening - Andrew Smith

Acknowledgements:

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